JOHN-PAUL KISSOCK broke down in tears inside Goodison Park's dressing-room and vowed never to kick a ball again.

Everton boss Davie Moyes had just told him he was being freed and the pain of being rejected by his boyhood heroes proved too hard to bear.

Kissock had sat in the stands with dad Fred as a kid before spending 12 years at Goodison as a youth player.

After getting to train with idols Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta all he wanted to do was pull on that blue shirt just once in front of the Toffees faithful.

So when Moyes took that chance away this summer the 19-year-old was ready to pack the game in.

That was until Billy Reid and Hamilton gave him back his belief. Kissock is now determined to compensate for the devastation of leaving Everton by making a name for himself in the SPL.

But the Scouse playmaker who will lines up for Reid's troops against Hibs today will never forget the day Moyes told him he wasn't wanted.

JP told MailSport: "I was devastated to leave Everton. I have supported them all my life and will always love the club.

"I wasn't Moyes' type of player he doesn't have many flamboyant players in his side.

"But you can't argue with what he has achieved at Everton and I wish him all the best.

"I was on the bench a lot and there were times I thought I might get on.

"However, it never happened and I was gutted to leave. Moyes took me into his office to deliver the news and it was a horrible day one of the worst experiences of my life.

"When he told me it was terrible. There were uncontrollable tears I broke down in the dressing-room even though I was determined not to.

"I had been at the club for 12 years and it was hard to tell the family, especially my dad. He's a mad blue and it was a shock.

"Everyone thought I deserved a chance. The most galling thing is not to have played a single game that's what I wanted to achieve.

"I didn't want to play football after that I just wanted to quit. Thankfully after a few weeks I picked myself up. Now that belief is back."

Kissock, who had a loan spell at crisis club Gretna two seasons ago, is delighted to be back in Scotland.

And he wants to make Hamilton fans forget James McCarthy, who has left for Wigan, by providing a creative spark.

Kissock said: "It's a great league and the Scottish people are brilliant. I'm a bit of a home bird but the Scots are just like Scousers.

"What happened at Gretna was sad but the club wasn't run as professionally as it could have been.

"It wasn't nice when half the squad were made redundant.

"A lot of young lads were there and that killed the spirit at the club.

"Coming from Everton it was night and day. Seeing people lose their jobs was definitely an eye-opener to the other side of football.

"I had a few options this summer but I like Scotland. It's close enough to ensure I don't get homesick.

"I believe I can be a good player for Hamilton. They have lost McCarthy and he was an important player in a creative sense.

"Hopefully I can provide that creativity. I like to get on the ball and show people what I can do.

"I want to do well here because the club has given me that buzz back."

Kissock is just one of several new faces at New Douglas Park and it has taken time for the new team to gel. The Lanarkshire outfit have failed to win in four outings this term after losing key players through suspension and injury.

Star turn McCarthy and full-back Brian Easton moved to England in the summer and Reid's signings are still trying to settle in.

But stalwart Mark McLaughlin insists they will be ready to beat Hibs today after working hard in training during the international break.

The 33-year-old defender said: "Losing Easton and McCarthy was a blow and we have also suffered through suspensions to James McArthur, Martin Canning and myself.

"Our captain Alex Neil has a hip injury and the sooner we get him back the better. Unfortunately he's a few months away from fitness.

"New players have come in and they always need time to adapt especially as the SPL is 100 miles per hour.

"But we have been working hard on our shape during the international break and I am sure we will see a difference now.

"The team spirit over the last few years has been great. It is still there and we just need to work hard as a team"

McLaughlin was on the scoresheet when Accies lost 4-1 to Rangers in their last SPL game but the stopper believes they can take a lot from that game.

And he's desperate to inspire Accies to a first home win over Hibs for 70 years and a first victory over the Leith side since season 1986/87.

The stopper said: "There were signs of improvement against Rangers and we must take that into the Hibs match.

"We didn't take any points from Hibs last season so we will need to take our chances this time.

"Hopefully Sunday can be a turning point as there are a few important games coming up.

"Hearts and Falkirk are also down at the bottom of the table and we play them this month."